Dogwood tree

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a novel variety of flowering dogwood tree, distinguished by unusually large leaves, a majority of which have a generally centrally oriented sharply defined light colored area and a dark colored margin, white flowers with red tips, the flowers typically appearing when the tree is quite young, upright habit of growth and brilliant dark red Fall leaf color.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of floweringdogwood tree of the species botanically known as Cornus florida.

My new variety originated as a bud sport of a Cornus florida welchiitree which I was growing on cultivated property in my nursery atPortland, Oreg. My attention was drawn to this particular tree becauseof its unusually large leaves, in comparison with other dogwood trees ofthe same species growing in the same area, and because of themulti-coloration of its leaves. These characteristics exhibited by thistree, the parent tree of my new variety, had never previously beenexhibited in any Cornus florida tree of which I was aware.

Closer observation of the parent tree, and continued observation ofprogeny thereof, which possessed identical characteristics so far asobservable, and which were subsequently asexually propagated under mydirection in Portland, Oreg., by budding to Cornus florida understock,has convinced me that my new tree represents a new and improved varietyof Cornus florida. Furthermore, these observations have confirmed thatmy new variety is particularly evidenced by the following uniquecombination of characteristics, which have proven firmly fixed, areoutstanding therein, and which distinguish it from all other varietiesof this species:

1. A centrally oriented sharply defined light green to yellow centralarea on a majority of the leaves;

2. Extremely large leaves;

3. Blooms which first appear on the trees when they are unusually young;

4. Flower petals which have a red tip;

5. Upright habit of growth; and

6. Brilliant dark red Fall colors.

The accompanying photographs depict the color of the foliage and flowersof my new variety as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make thesame in a color illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of an entire tree of the present invention,taken in late June 1977 to show the upright habit of growth of the tree;

FIG. 2 is a closeup photograph of leaves of a tree of my variety, takenat the same time as the photograph of FIG. 1 to show the light coloredcentral area of the leaves;

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of a flower of my new variety, taken inlate April 1978 to show the red tip of the petals; and

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of leaves of the tree of my invention,taken in November 1977 to show their brilliant Fall colors.

One distinguishing characteristic of my tree is a sharply defined greento greenish-yellow central area of the majority of leaves of each tree.The remainder of the leaves are a dark green color so that my treeexhibits, during the Spring and Summer, striking multi-colored leaves.Although known Cornus florida welchii leaves are variegated, the centralarea of such leaves is almost white, and not the green to green-yellowcolor of the central area of the multi-colored leaves of my tree. Inaddition, the leaves of my tree are also much larger than those ofCornus florida welchii trees. In many cases, the leaves of my varietyappear to be approximately twice as large as the leaves of othervarieties of this species. More specifically, a number of leaves from mytree, selected at random during November 1977, were found to range fromapproximately 6 to 10.7 centimeters wide and from approximately 10.7 to17.7 centimeters long.

Also, flowers often begin appearing on trees of my new variety duringthe second year after they have been budded. On the other hand, Cornusflorida welchii trees do not bloom until their third or fourth year frombudding, and often not until their fifth or sixth year. Unlike otherknown varieties of this species, the flowers of my new variety are whitewith many of the petals having a red tip.

In addition, my new dogwood tree has upright branches in comparison tothe more spreading growing habit of branches of other dogwood trees ofthis species.

Furthermore, the Fall colors of my variety appear to be a more brilliantdark red color than the red Fall colors more typical of the species.

Otherwise, insofar as I have been able to observe at this time, my newvariety is generally typical of the species.

Following is a detailed description of my new variety of Cornus floridatree with color terminology in accordance with the Royal HorticulturalSociety Color Chart (hereinafter RHS) published by the RoyalHorticultural Society of London. It is pointed out, however, that thecoloration of the leaves as indicated below is only approximate becausethe coloration varies considerably depending upon lighting conditionsand time of year. In addition, the size and shape of the leaves variesdepending upon the nature of the growing season.

Parentage: A bud sport of Cornus florida welchii.

Propagation: Holds to distinguishing characteristics through succeedingpropagation by budding on Cornus florida understock.

Locality where grown and observed: Portland, Oreg.

Tree: Upright habit of growth, healthy.

Foliage:

Shape.--Ovate, with some leaves being broader than others.

Apex.--Acuminate.

Base.--Obtuse.

Margin.--Entire.

Size.--Length, in one sampling the length of leaves ranged from about10.7 centimeters to 17.7 centimeters from the base of the petiole to thetip of the leaf and averaged approximately 14.8 centimeters. Width, inthe above sampling the width of the leaves ranged from about 6centimeters to about 10.7 centimeters and averaged approximately 8.7centimeters.

Color.--In early Summer, the leaves are two colored with a dark greencolored margin like RHS Plate 137A and a central lighter colored areawhich is a greenish-yellow to yellow color like RHS Plate 144A. In theFall, the leaves turn a brilliant red color somewhat darker than RHSplate 183A.

Flowers:

Color.--White with many of the petals having tips which are a red colorlike RHS Plate 183A.

i claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of flowering dogwood treesubstantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularlyas to novelty by unusually large leaves with a majority of the leaveshaving a dark colored margin and a light colored sharply defined centralarea, blooms which typically appear when the tree is extremely young,many petals of the blooms having a red tip, an upright habit of growthand brilliant dark red Fall leaf color.